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Chimera in humans7/4/2023 It is possible for a chimera to pass one set of DNA on to their child but show a second set of DNA with a cheek swab, as in the Linda Fairchild case. Chimerism and an “Exclusive” ResultsĪn exclusion (when a man is not the father of a child) could potentially be affected by someone being a chimera. Matches at all locations indicate a positive paternity test result, even if the father is a chimera. It’s virtually impossible (that is, very, very unlikely) that possessing two sets of DNA would make someone appear to be a father when they are not. ![]() ![]() The father’s DNA was passed to the child, and the loci (markers) all match up. Therefore that man is considered to be the biological father. What Does This Mean For My DNA Paternity Test Results? Chimerism and an “Inclusive” ResultsĪn inclusion, or “positive” DNA paternity test shows that an alleged father and the child share the same DNA. No one knows exactly how many cases of human chimera there are, but most studies cite only 30 reported cases in all of human history. Though cases like this are often given a lot of press, their occurrence is very rare. Further testing indicated that cells taken from her reproductive organs contained different DNA than those taken from her mouth for the DNA testing and those were a match to her children. Different parts of her body could have come from different cell lines. It was concluded that Fairchild may have been a chimera, her body the result of the fusion of two non- identical embryos at the earliest stage of development. Results showed a poor match, as if she were the baby’s grandmother. This was what happened in the case of Lynda Fairchild, profiled in an ABC documentary.įairchild underwent DNA maternity testing shortly after the birth of her child. A second, distinct set of DNA may be present in the skin, blood, or even reproductive organs of the chimera. This second set of DNA can show up anywhere in the body. One set of their DNA and one that would have been their twin’s DNA. This may cause the chimera to carry two sets of DNA in their body. This anomaly is thought to be caused by the absorption, or fusing, of twins before they are born. ![]() Named for the mythical monster with a lion’s head, a goat’s body and the tail of a snake, human chimeras have two or more genetically-distinct types of cells in their bodies. This extremely rare and interesting genetic condition can lead to the question “Can my DNA paternity test be wrong because I have human chimera DNA?” It’s important to know up front that the chances of this phenomenon causing misleading or incorrect paternity-test results is incredibly tiny, and should not be considered a cause for concern for your test. Human chimeras are a popular topic for TV shows and crime scene dramas.
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